Axle-nut.



`. C. WILLIS.

AXLB NUT. APPLIoATIoN' FILED MAR. 14, 1906.

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ALONZO c. WniLis, or CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Axis-NUT..

Specicaltion of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9, 1907.

` Application iiled March 14,1906. Serial No. 306,078.

. of which the following lis a specification.

This inventionrelates to axle-nuts of the type employed for retaining Ithe wheel-hub upon the spindle, and has for itsobjects to produce a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character which may be readily engaged with or disengaged fromthe end of the spindle, one wherebythe formation of interengaging threads on the axle and nut for holding thelatter in place is obviated," and one whereby tendency of the nut to escape from or become objectionably tight in practice is overcome.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide ai device of this character embodying a spring-nut-retaining. member having spindleengaging portions adapted to securely engageand retain the nut upon ,the spindle, one wherein said engaging portions serve to guide the nut in the operations of applying or removing the same, and one in which the engagement on non-engagement of the member with the spindle may b e quickly and conveniently effected.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises the 'novel features of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section through a wheel-hub, showing the same mounted upon an axle-spindle and retained in place by a nut embodying the invention. Fig.- 2 is a detail sectional view showing the nut-reta1n ing member inreleased position. Fig. 3 is a detail view, partly lin-section, showing the parts illustrated in Fig. 2 and as viewed vat right angles to said iigure- Fig. 4 is a detail view of the end of the spindle. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 6 1s an end view ofthe nut. Y

. Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a vehicle-axle, having a spindle 2 provided at its outer `end with a reduced nut-receiving portion 3,`there being arranged for rotation on `:the spindle a wheel-hub 4, havinganinner metal box 5, properly fitted on the spindle.

` These parts may all .be of' the usualor any preferred construction and material, except that the reduced nut-receiving portlon 3 1s provided-with a pair ofiopposed longitudinally-extending grooves 6, terminating f' at their inner ends in transversely-disposed sockets or recesses 7, constituting seats fora purpose .which will presently appear.

Formed to seat on thereduced portion3 of thespindle and for holding the hub thereon is a nut 8, having at its inner end an annular groove or raceway 9 for the reception of antifriction members Vor balls 10, `arranged to bear on the adjacent endof -the box and provided between its ends with a pair of diametrically-opposed transverse openings or perforations 11, adapted when the nut is in applied position to register, v respectively, with the sockets or seats 7, there being formed at'the outer end of the nut andv in axial alinement with the openings 1,1 a pair of projecting cam members or portions 12, preferably of the form shown and having outer curved faces 13.

Applied to the4 nut 8 and for holding the same on the spindle is a retaining device comprising'a substantially U`shaped spring locking member or bail 14, the normally parallel arms 15 `of which are equipped adjacent their inner ends with inwardly-projecting engaging portions or fingers-16, movably disposed 'in the openings 11 and adapted to engage at dotted'lines inA Fig. 3, with the arms 15 in non-engagement with the cam-lugs 12 and the engaging fingers 16 seated at `their inner ends in the sockets 7, as seen in Fig. 1. Under these conditions and when it is desired to remove the nut for permitting removal of the hubthe bail 14 is turned laterally to the full-line position, (illustrated in Fig. 3 Whereupon the arms 15 ride upward on the camlugs 12, by which they are spread relatively for moving the inner ends of fingers 16 out of the socket 7, as seen in Fig; 2, whereby the nut may be readilyremoved from the spindle, it being noted in this connection that during the removal of the nut. from or its application to the portion 3 the inner ends ofthe fingers 16 travel in the grooves 6 for properly guid ing the nut and for insuring proper alinement of the openin s 11 with the seats 7. It will be understood that after the nut has been properly seated on the end of the spindle the IOO outer end of the bail 14 is swung laterally for carrying the arms 15 thereof out of engagement with the lugs 13, whereby the fingers 16 swing into engagement with the sockets 7.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A nutof the type described having a pail` of transverse openings and provided with cam-lugs dislposed remote from said openings, aspring loc ing member applied to the nut an provided with engaging portions movably disposed in said openings, and a nut-receiving element provided with transverse sockets to receive the inner ends of engaging portions, said locking members being arranged to ride onto the lugs for retracting the engaging portions from the sockets.

2. A nut of the type described havinga transverse o ening and provided with a camlug disposed) remote from `said opening, a spring locking member applied to the nut and having an arm adapted for movement over said lug, said arm being provided with an engaging portion movably disposed in said opening, and a nut-receiving element having a depression to receive the inner end of said engaging portion, the .arm being adapted in riding ontoV thelug to retract the engaging portion from the depression.

3. A nut of the type descrlbed having a pair of transverse openings and provl ed with cam-lugs disposed remote from said openings, a substantially U-shaped s ring locking member applied to the nut an presenting a pair of arms having inwardly-projecting engaging fingers movably disposed respectively in said openings, and a nut-receiving element having longitudinal grooves communicating at their inner' ends with seats for the inner ends off said lingers, said arms being designed to ride onto the lugs for retracting the fingers from said seats.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses'.

- ALONZO C. WILLIS. Witnesses:

E. FAGUE, A. A. EGE. 

